To the Market We Go, a Weekly Must

I love going to the market. But you already knew that.

You would think that after four years of going to the same market once or twice a week, every week, it would get less exciting. Nope. I love my dear Bürkliplatz market. In the spring, when it’s overflowing with a rainbow of tulips and bright vegetables and fruits, not to mention smiling market goers… And what’s not to love about it in the summer when I could fill my caddy with an amazing variety of berries alone… Autumn has its own excitement, when the last of the summer produce shares the tables with the first of the root vegetables and the odd looking pumpkin. And now even with winter approaching and the market getting smaller and more quiet, it’s still a thrill to go each and every week and fill my caddy with the season’s freshest, local produce, along with wholesome breads to dip into homemade soups. Not to mention special Christmas goodies, like fresh walnuts, stuffed dried figs and especially Medjool dates from California, making their annual appearance (a must read for fellow date lovers).

(Added excitement may also be due to the fact that *I* don’t go the market anymore… WE go to the market… that is, me and my baby girl !!)

There’s always something new to discover too; once it was the most adorable mini kiwis. Then super long zucchini that we later saw in Sicily too. And now my current favorite is bright orange persimmon, sliced like a tomato to expose the star-like interior. I’ve photographed and tasted amazing varieties of radishes and beets, as well as apples, potatoes, carrots and pumpkins – all with fun colors, shapes and names. And below right, how about those crazy cones of cabbage ?!

The market at Burkliplatz is especially fun and colorful on Friday mornings, when both ordinary and exotic flowers and plants are an added bonus.

Some of you may recognize a few of these images above from Instagram or Twitter, where I share my market finds… With one hand on my caddy and now one on the stroller, I somehow manage to have one on my iphone too. Best of all is what has become a fun series, my “back from the market with…” photos, like the one below. I already can’t wait to refill that caddy and cover our farm table with the day’s goodies…

10 Responses to “To the Market We Go, a Weekly Must”

Kerrin; this post made me smile, thanks 🙂
I too loved the Bürklimärt with a love bordering on obsession – I got my flower bunches regularly there while I worked in Zurich. Because I was always early, I cd even choose before the masses arrived… small, round, only reds, whatever – such a delight!
The prices are still high too…. but at least the money goes mostly to the farmers directly and that’s a good thing. you also got unusual stuff like topinambours many years before anybody spoke about them (I still don’t like them).
And now we want to see pixies of your little girl pliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis (schwyzertütsch-änglisch)
love, Kiki

Every market post reminds me of my interest in learning German. But then I forget about it until the next market post, because there aren’t any German language classes for me to take where I live. I’ll have to subsist on market vocab, which isn’t the worst thing given that food comes first!

Love all those mushrooms! Our chanterelle foraging days are long gone for the year, as everything is quite frozen and chilly. But we had quite a haul of edibles this year:)

Kiki, love putting a smile on your face and bringing back great memories of your time here. Definitely a bonus to go to the market early – you can pick and choose the best of the best and especially chit chat with the vendors, before there’s a line of people waiting behind you. Some stands are mega expensive (to be avoided), but others are great value and as you said, supporting the local farmers.

Lena, oh how cool that you have been doing a market post like that too ! Thanks so much for sharing.

Emma, you know I always think of you with market posts ! So, I guess I better do them more frequently if you’re going to learn German 😉 Meanwhile, that was the very first thing I learned when I moved here – fruits and vegetables in German for my market visits !

You experience markets in such a lovely way! Even now, a period in the year supposed to be less exciting to do markets … I’d love to bump into you and your little girl next time I go to the Burkiplatz market!

Hi Kerrin! I just fund your blog: it is very beautiful and useful (I live close to Zurich too 🙂 ). I’ve never been to the Bürklimarkt (I’m working usually on Tuesday and Friday morning)… it’s a pity, I’ll try to visit it when I’ll have the chance!
I’ll come back to visit your blog again! 🙂
Have a nice Sunday!
SiLviA

WOW! This market from this time of the year? Just lovely! Our winter markets here in Canada don’t look as colourful and bountiful! We have mostly potatoes, turnips, squashes, and beets – ahahahaha…! I still see lots of greens over there…